Candy notices, and the smile falls from her face instantly. My mom steps over to them and says something that makes Vikki unhappy. Jake offers an apologetic smile.
My mother rushes over to our side. "Candy! North! We’re so happy you're here. And I'm sorry about Vikki. I've said something to her, and she should be on her best behavior."
Before Mom gets a chance to say anymore, she's pulled away with a question from one of the staff.
"Yeah, because I'm sure that will end well," Candy mumbles before fixing the fake smile on her face again.
Chapter 12
North
WesuccessfullyavoidJakeand Vikki through the rest of the little get-together and rehearsal. I haven’t left Candy's side. I don't know what’s happened, but whatever it is, I'm not letting her face it alone.
At the reception dinner, our seats are close to the front, near Jake and Vikki’s family. Vikki tried to place Candy at the other end of the table, but I put my foot down, and my mother agreed.
The dinner seems to go on and on and on. People give toasts to the couple left and right about how great they are, how cute they are together, and how well Jake treats Vikki.
Every time I look up, I find Vikki glaring at Candy, and my girl is uncomfortable. She's barely said a word or touched her food.
"North!" One of my brother's college buddies jumps up, grabbing my attention. "You've got to give a toast, man. You're the groom's brother!" He must be unaware of why I haven’t been asked to give a toast.
"No, everyone else has this one covered." I try to brush it off with a smile, but some of his other college buddies jump in.
When I look at Vikki again, she's scowling at Candy, and so are a few of her friends. I squeeze Candy's hand and stand, and everyone quiets down. Vikki and Jake’s eyes go wide, and Vikki gives a satisfied smirk like she's caught me in the act of having to speak nicely about her.
"I wasn't asked to give a toast tonight even though I'm the groom's brother. That's because when Vikki and Jake got together, Vikki and I were still dating." The room goes so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Candy brushes my leg in silent support, and I smile at her.
"Vikki and I dated for a few years, and I thought things were great. I was ready to propose, and I had a ring in hand. Then I found her and my brother together. They’d been sneaking around behind my back for months rather than Vikki breaking up with me. It showed how much of a coward she truly is. I bet many of you are asking why I'm here at the wedding. Well, it's because my grandmother and my grandfather are here."
I look over at them and smile. My grandma has a huge smile on her face. I told them what happened between Vikki and me, and she said I should let her have it, so I know she's beyond thrilled that I'm finally standing up for myself. My grandfather has his gaze averted from Jake and Vikki—I'm sure he doesn't want them to know how he truly feels.
"I'm also here because my parents insisted. They wanted me to play the happy big brother role, and I tried. But now Vikki is treating my girlfriend like shit, and there’s no excuse. Why should she care who I'm dating when she’s marrying my brother?"
"Son, I think that's enough." My dad says calmly, trying to put an end to the situation.
"You're right. It is enough." I take Candy's hand, and she stands and follows me from the room. No one says a word the whole time.
The house has two wings, and the girls are staying on one side and the guys on the other. I wrap my arm around Candy's waist and lead her back to her bedroom.
"I bet that felt good, didn't it?" she asks as we head down the hallway.
"Yeah, it did. But I wouldn't have said any of it if she’d left you alone. Jake and I made amends last night. I hoped it was enough for all this to be over."
"Not for a girl like Vikki. She’ll never be happy with anyone having you even though she didn't want you," Candy says, shaking her head as we reach her door.
She's talking to me, but I still feel the wall between us, and I want it gone. I want to get back to what we had before the bachelor and bachelorette parties. That easy-going girl whose smile lit up my entire world, I need her back.
Without thinking about it too much, I lean in and kiss her. I press her against the wall, wrap my hand in her hair, and kiss her deeply. My mouth dances on her, and she melts into me little by little.
When she wraps her arms around my waist, I feel that wall between us start to drop. I don't want to push my luck, so I reluctantly pull back from the kiss. But when I look at her face, it's soft, and she's smiling at me again.
"Get some sleep. It's a long day tomorrow, and you're going to be so sick of me at your side," I tell her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Candy nods and heads into her room.
Only once she closes the door behind her do I head back to my room on the other side of the house. I take the long way and go outside to get some fresh air, avoiding anyone who might be done with dinner.